Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Server Problems
If you have not been able to access Alert5 recently, its due to the server host changing to a new DNS server and failed to inform me of the changes.
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QinetiQ work on Typhoon EMP protection
QinetiQ is working with the Typhoon Integrated Project Team and overseeing the work to ensure the aircraft will survive an ElectroMagnetic Pulse (EMP). It is also providing design advice for hardening and protection and an assessment service in support of several other military projects.
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Senate Proposal Could Cut Next F/A-22 Order, DOD Says
The U.S. Defense Department is warning Congress that a Senate proposal to put conditions on buying F/A-22 Raptors could force the Air Force to trim its next order.
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Monday, August 30, 2004
Fueling all fighters
An Israeli F-15 maneuvers away after receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker over Nevada's test and training ranges during Red Flag 04-3 here Aug 25. More than 100 aircraft and 2,500 participants are involved in this exercise. Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the U.S. Air Force and its allies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kevin Gruenwald)
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Sunday, August 29, 2004
Air Vector:Soviet Jet VTOL: Yak-36, Yak-38, & Yak-41
Next month's Air Vector features the Yak VTOL jets.
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Navy jet hauled out of bay
A $40 million F/A-18C Hornet jet that overshot the runway into San Diego Bay while landing at the U.S. Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado was hauled out of the water Friday night, an official said.
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U.S. suspends flights by CH-53D helicopters
The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo announced Saturday the suspension of all flights in Japan by CH-53D helicopters.
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Saturday, August 28, 2004
Northrop Grumman Successfully Integrates LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod on U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18D Aircraft
Northrop Grumman Corporation today announced the U.S. Marine Corps has successfully integrated and tested the company's LITENING Advanced Targeting (AT) system on the F/A-18D Hornet aircraft. The F/A-18D is the eighth U.S. platform with the system.
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Hornet Mishap in San Diego
An F/A-18C Hornet pilot from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151 is in stable condition at Naval Medical Center, San Diego, after safely ejecting from his aircraft Aug. 26 at approximately 8:45 p.m.
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Background Brief on CH-53 Helicopter Accident
Transcript of an official briefing at the U.S. Embassy Tokyo regarding the Marine Corps CH-53D accident in Okinawa .
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Combat helicopter UH Tiger receives type certification and qualification
Combat helicopter Tiger clears its way towards in-service date. German military certification authority grants type certification for the German UH-Tiger version. Shortly afterwards the European organisation for armaments co-operation OCCAR expressed the respective qualification.
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BAE SYSTEMS F-35 JSF EW SUITE �READY TO FLY�
BAE Systems made an early delivery of its low-cost, lightweight, Electronic Warfare (EW) suite to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., for development of the next-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
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Northrop Grumman Awarded $197 Million Contract for Work on USS Enterprise (CVN 65)
Northrop Grumman Corporation was awarded a contract modification from the U.S. Navy valued at approximately $197 million for maintenance work on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65).
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Australian govt briefs Indonesia over missile plan
A day after the government expressed its concern over Australia's plan to boost its offensive capability, Canberra briefed Jakarta on Friday, regarding its plan to purchase long-range cruise missiles.
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Helicopter simulators prepare pilots for flight
Marine Corps air station Miramar has invested more than $80 million in two state of the art flight simulators; one for both the CH-53 and CH-46 aircraft.
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Friday, August 27, 2004
LOCKHEED MARTIN RECEIVES $56.5 MILLION RISK REDUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL HELICOPTER PROGRAM
The U.S. Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a $56.5 million risk reduction contract to fund program management, engineering and logistics support for the Presidential Helicopter Program through November 30, 2004. These efforts will further reduce potential technical risks associated with the program before the Navy awards the presidential helicopter contract in December 2004.
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Sikorsky to Acquire Schweizer Aircraft
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., today announced an agreement to acquire Schweizer Aircraft Corp., a privately owned U.S. company specializing in the light helicopter, reconnaissance aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) markets.
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Two Romanian Warplanes Collide, Pilots Safe
Two Romanian Russian-made MiG-21 warplanes collided Thursday over the town of Cristesti in the centre of the country while on an exercise, a defence ministry spokesman said.
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Boeing Delivers 500th Apache Longbow Combat Helicopter, Milestone Trainer
The Boeing Company today delivered its 500th AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter, and celebrated the delivery of the 22nd and final AH-64D maintenance trainer to the U.S. Army.
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Deployment of RAF Harrier GR7 Aircraft to Afghanistan
The Secretary of State for Defence announced on 25 August 2004 the UK's decision to deploy six RAF Harrier GR7 aircraft to Kandahar, Afghanistan, for an initial period of nine months.
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Marines recount rescue of helo crew
Lance Cpl. Christopher Teague, the first Marine to respond to a downed helicopter just outside the base fence line, had pulled a pilot out of the burning wreckage of a CH-53D Sea Stallion; he was about 10 steps from the helicopter when it exploded.
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General defends helicopter flight resumption in Okinawa
The commander of U.S. forces in Japan on Thursday defended the military�s handling of the Aug. 13 crash of a Marine helicopter in a university campus in Okinawa. Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas Waskow told the Japan National Press Club the United States resumed flights of the CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters Sunday because they had completed safety checks.
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Pratt & Whitney Resumes F135 STOVL Propulsion System Testing for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
The Pratt & Whitney led F135 Propulsion System Team has delivered and begun testing on its second F135 Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) Propulsion System, engine number FX643. Later this month P&W also anticipates the resumption of testing on FX641, the 1st STOVL configured F135 Propulsion System.
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ITALIAN ASSISTANCE FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF AIRCRAFT CARRIER
The Indian government had approved construction of an Air Defence Ship (ADS) at Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), Kochi. CSL, Kochi, has signed two contracts with M/s Ficantieri, an Italian Shipyard for undertaking design, integration, installation and commissioning of the Propulsion System for the ADS at a negotiated cost of 22 million EURO and for consultancy in detailed engineering and documentation at a negotiated cost of 6 million EURO.
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Thursday, August 26, 2004
McCain chides Air Force general for tanker 'folly'
Republican Sen. John McCain, a key critic of a stalled $23.5 Air Force deal to lease and buy 100 Boeing Co. aerial refueling tankers, chided a top general for focusing on corrosion problems with existing KC-135s tankers, which McCain said had been disproved.
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E-2 Hawkeye Surpasses 1 Million Flight Hours
The one millionth flight hour of the E-2 Hawkeye was celebrated in early August in Norfolk, Va. The milestone was commemorated by the U.S. Navy and the aircraft�s manufacturer, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Aug. 14 at the annual East Coast Hawkeye-Greyhound Ball.
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BAE SYSTEMS Proceeds to Phase II for U.S. Commercial Airliner Protection
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced that BAE Systems has been selected to participate in Phase II of its Counter-MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense Systems) program to protect commercial aircraft against threats posed by infrared guided missiles.
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AESA Radar Reaches One Year Flight Test Milestone
More than a year since its first flight, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Strike Fighter Program office's F/A-18 Hornet Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) APG-79 Radar program continues to rapidly advance toward equipping the fleet with cutting edge radar technology.
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Belarussian defense minister to observe exercise on Russian training ground
Belarussian Defense Minister Leonid Maltsev on Wednesday arrived at the Ashuluk training ground in Russia's Astrakhan region, where an exercise of the Belarussian air force and air defense units is taking place, Russian Air Force press service chief Colonel Alexander Drobyshevsky told Interfax-Military News Agency.
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Australia buys new stealth missiles
Australia will become the first country in the region to be armed with long-range stealth cruise missiles to help safeguard its military advantage over regional neighbours when the ageing F-111 strike bombers are retired from 2010.
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Air Chief�s Israel trip may include an F-16 spin
The Indian Air Chief may just get to fly an F-16 fighter aircraft. Air Chief S Krishnaswamy could be presented this opportunity when he visits Tel Aviv on September 4 at the invitation of Israel�s Vice Chief of Defence Staff Dan Halutz.
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City mayors ask Kadena to cancel Thunderbirds F-16 aerial demonstration after helo accident
The mayors of the three municipalities that host Kadena Air Base want the U.S. Air Force to cancel a Thunderbirds air show scheduled for Sept. 15.
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Stealth Comes Out of the Dark
An F-117 stealth fighter has been flying day and night missions with a new two-tone gray paint job, similar to what is used on the F-22.
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Frost & Sullivan's Analysis Of World Markets For Military Pilot Training
Recent analysis from Frost & Sullivan estimates the aggregated global market for basic and advanced/fighter lead-in trainer aircraft at US$42.0 billion during the 2004 to 2025 timeframe.
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Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Goshawk Go!
Lt.Cmdr. Jake Jacoby from Seattle, Wash., and Lt.Cmdr. (Select) Mark Sibon from Oak Harbor Wash., gives the go to a T-45A Goshawk assigned to Training Air Wing Two (TW-2) to launch from catapult one. Lincoln is currently conducting operations in preparation for its deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Geanine I. Ortez (RELEASED)
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Enterprise Shares 'Lessons Learned' From Summer Pulse '04
Since USS Enterprise�s (CVN 65) (Big E) return from Summer Pulse �04 July 23, the crew has had the opportunity to assess the experience to see what worked, what didn�t and how to best learn from it.
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TEAM US101 NAMES 13 ADDITIONAL CONNECTICUT SUPPLIERS TO SUPPORT NEXT MARINE ONE HELICOPTER
Team US101 has identified 13 additional companies in Connecticut to supply components for the American-built US101 medium-lift helicopter. Team US101 is competing to provide the President of the United States with a fleet of next-generation helicopters.
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Poles visit Aviano to get familiar with F-16s
Polish Air Force Col. Lesnikowski and Swierkocz visited the 510th Fighter Squadron, Italy to fly the F-16.
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Royal Maces to return to Atsugi with new F/A-18E Super Hornets
In a move Navy leaders said will strengthen the U.S. commitment to peace in Asia, a new squadron of F/A-18E Super Hornets is to arrive at Atsugi Naval Air Facility, Japan, next month.
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Lockheed, Bell combine on combat copter
Lockheed Martin and Bell Helicopter have reached a milestone in a joint effort to develop an unmanned combat helicopter for the Army.
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Air Guard Squadron Makes Mark in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Air National Guard's 107th became the first F-16 Fighting Falcon unit to be based in Iraq when it established its base in Kirkuk when it deployed for three months in February. It also was the first F-16 unit to employ the Theater Airborne Reconnaissance System, or TARS, as well as the first to employ the Litening advanced targeting pod.
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Iran prepares for US, Israeli strikes on nuclear facilities
The US and its allies are increasingly concerned about Iran�s nuclear program, which Tehran says only serves civilian purposes. If the EU powers and the IAEA fail to secure satisfactory guarantees from Iran, some analysts predict that either the US or Israel may attempt to destroy Iranian nuclear installations through military means.
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Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Air power!
A pair of F-16 Fighting Falcons launch flares during a mission Aug. 18. The aircraft are assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad Air Base, Iraq, from the New Mexico Air National Guard. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Scott Reed)
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Super Typhoon Chaba Turns, Kitty Hawk Returns to Sea after Brief Port Visit
USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) returned to sea in the western Pacific Ocean Aug. 21, following an abbreviated port visit to Guam.
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6 Futenma CH-53Ds set off for Iraq
Six CH-53D Sea Stallion heavy-lift helicopters left Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on Sunday for duty with the Okinawa-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Iraq.
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Two dead in French mid-air fighter plane collision
A French Mirage fighter plane collided in mid-air with a microlight aircraft during a training flight on Monday in central France, killing the two people on the microlight, the French army said.
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US military says missing part caused helicopter crash
The US military on Sunday said a helicopter accident in Japan that injured three Marines nine days ago was caused by a missing part and the problem was unique to the aircraft involved.
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Emergency landing area proposed
The Royal Malaysian Air Force may build an emergency landing area between Bakelalan and Miri, in Sarawak, in the wake of two recent helicopter accidents, if the present flight path is to be maintained.
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200,000 expected to attend Misawa festival
More than 40 aircraft and 200,000 people from northern Japan are expected for the Sept. 5 Misawa Air Festival, a joint U.S. Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force event.
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F-35 Wing Assembly Begins at Lockheed Martin
Assembly of the wing for the first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter started at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, less than two months after the plant initiated the aircraft's forward-fuselage assembly.
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LOCKHEED MARTIN DEMONSTRATES COLLABORATION OF MANNED, UNMANNED AIRCRAFT AS PART OF UCAR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Lockheed Martin successfully completed a demonstration of manned and unmanned aircraft collaboration as one of the advanced command and control concepts it is developing for its Unmanned Combat Armed Rotorcraft (UCAR) program.
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Monday, August 23, 2004
Remaking Dover's C-5 fleet
Modernizing cargo jets could be crucial to new U.S. redeployment strategy.
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Governor, general at odds over Futenma flights
Okinawa island�s top U.S. general and governor were at odds Saturday over resumption of most air operations at Futenma Marine Corps Air Station.
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New strike fighters coming to Nellis Air Force Base
A notice that will appear in Monday's Federal Register calls for 36 of the nation's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets to be produced and delivered to the Nellis Air Force Base between 2009 and 2028.
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Sunday, August 22, 2004
LEADING REP. SUPPORTS AMRAAM SALE TO JORDAN
Rep. Tom Lantos, a California Democrat, was said to have told Jordanian leaders that he supported the sale of the AIM-120C Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile to Amman.
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NEW IRAQI AIR FORCE TAKES FLIGHT
The Iraqi air force commenced operations Aug. 18, with the flights of two SB7L-360 SEEKER Reconnaissance Aircraft in "limited operations missions" intended to protect infrastructure facilities and Iraq's borders as part of the Iraqi government's continuing mission to provide peace and security to the citizens of Iraq.
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Air Force base sets Air Expo '04
The 27th Fighter Wing will conduct Air Expo '04 on Sept. 25 at Cannon Air Force Base. The show is open to the public with free admission and parking.
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Squadrons gather at RAF Lakenheath for Excalibur competition
The Top Gun crew was Capt. Ben �Thor� Heslin and 1st Lt. Mike �Trapper� Kelly from the 492nd Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath. The top wing was the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano, and the top flight was from the 510th Fighter Squadron at Aviano.
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RAF cuts leave 'Too Few' for new planes
Analysis by defence experts suggests the UK will have only 230 crews capable of flying next-generation fighters even though billions of pounds are being spent buying almost 500 jets.
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Dutch to send six F-16 fighters to Afghanistan for elections
The Netherlands will send six F-16 fighter jets and up to 210 supporting troops to Afghanistan to boost security during elections there, said the Dutch Cabinet.
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Saturday, August 21, 2004
IAF eyes indigenous AJT to supplement Hawks:
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has its eyes on an indigenous advanced jet trainer (AJT) to supplement the 66 Hawks it is acquiring from Britain.
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Two new leaders to step up to Air Combat Command
The top leadership of the Air Force�s premier command here is expected to change with the turnover of two key leadership positions. Lt. Gen. Ronald E. Keys has been nominated for appointment to the four-star rank of general to command the Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base. Maj. Gen. William M. Fraser III has been nominated for the three-star rank of lieutenant general to become vice commander.
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Air Force general to head U.S. Pacific Command
Air Force Gen. Gregory "Speedy" Martin was appointed to head U.S. Pacific Command.
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Hickam breaks ground for C-17 cargo carriers
Eight of the Air Force's latest cargo carriers, the C-17 Globemaster III, will start arriving in Hawaii, one per month beginning in January of 2006.
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Jaguars To Get Digital Autopilot
French company Sextant will carry out a complete upgrade of the Indian Jaguar autopilot system. The company will supply a state-of-the-art modular, digital autopilot for Indian Air Force�s (IAF) Jaguars, derived from autopilots already developed for the Mirage 2000-9 and the Nimrod 2000.
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Lancers strengthen bonds in Australia
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212 deployed to Tindal Australia, Aug. 8, for what hopes to be another successful deployment to exercise Southern Frontier.
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U.S. to address noise concerns over Super Hornet fighters
The United States told Japan it plans to deploy the single-seat F/A-18E fighters in late September at the Atsugi base, the officials said.
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THAAD Displaying 'Residual' Capability Against ICBMs
U.S. missile defense developers have discovered that the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, designed to destroy short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in their final stages of flight, will also be capable of shooting down longer-range targets.
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LOCKHEED MARTIN LOOKS TO THE FUTURE WITH THE C-130J SUPER HERCULES AS IT CELEBRATES FIFTY YEARS OF AIRLIFT EXCELLENCE
Lockheed Martin will celebrate five decades of airlift excellence on Monday, August 23, as the 1954 first flight of the YC-130 prototype will be recognized in ceremonies at the company�s facility here. Bob Hill, a 53-year employee of the company, who helped build the first production C-130 in 1954, will read a proclamation adopted by the Georgia General Assembly honoring the Hercules. In another historic event, the Honorable Kevin Hellmer, the postmaster of Marietta, will unveil a special U.S. Postal Service pictorial cancellation in honor of the first flight.
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Cope Thunder trains warfighters
With more than 62,000 square miles of integrated training ranges, Alaska provides the perfect backdrop for Cope Thunder 04-02, a total-force exercise which runs through Aug. 27
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US plans improved missiles to maintain air-to-air supremacy
US Air Force (USAF) and US Navy (USN) planners envisage three new air-to-air missiles intended to maintain air-combat supremacy. Between the fielding of the new Raytheon AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) at the end of the decade, the services intend to develop and deploy at least two more AMRAAM variants, while an all-new missile is being studied as an eventual replacement for the AIM-120 series.
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WORLD�S MOST MODERN MISSILES GIVE HORNETS A NEW STING
Australia�s F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft are now equipped with the world�s most modern missile capability following the introduction into service of the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), Defence Minister Robert Hill announced.
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Friday, August 20, 2004
LOCKHEED MARTIN TEAM COMPLETES PRELIMINARY DESIGN REVIEW FOR UCAR UNMANNED AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
A team led by Lockheed Martin successfully completed a week-long Preliminary Design Review (PDR) of the Unmanned Combat Armed Rotorcraft (UCAR) program, finishing on schedule the preliminary design phase program.
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Northrop Grumman Awarded $1.04 Billion to Continue Work on X-47B Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems Program
Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to continue work on the X-47B portion of the Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) demonstration program.
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Boeing/Insitu ScanEagle UAV Sets Ship-Based Endurance Record
ScanEagle, a long-endurance fully autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed and built by Boeing and The Insitu Group, recently completed a 16+ hour flight, believed to be the longest flight ever by a UAV launched and retrieved at sea.
